Tech. Adventure. Shameless Geekiness.

Be Successful: “Act Like a Man” and other irritating stereotypes

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard women say, “We have to teach other women that it’s okay to take a man’s role,” or, “It’s okay to be loud and assertive like a man,” or even, “Don’t be afraid to act like a man at your job!”

I think that’s stupid. Men are typically seen as the more dominant forces in the tech industry because, until recently, there were ONLY men in the tech industry! That’s the only reason why most assertive higher ups are men. Women have simply not been around long enough to be consistently seen as driving forces. In short, negative stereotypes are rooted in history.

But now, women are perpetuating these stereotypes by continuing to say things like, “act like a man.” It’s this inferiority complex that makes girls grow up expecting to be overpowered by men in a professional setting. But it really doesn’t have to be that way.

Women and girls, I challenge you to stand your ground. Keep your head high, be professional, and don’t listen to people when they tell you that what you love is “a man’s job”. It’s up to us to turn the stereotypes around by proving them wrong!

Have an opinion or a story to share about stereotypes? Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you!